I am writing in response to the article by Tom Shields ("If Giffnock was Gaza", The Herald, September 20).
Mr Shields is perfectly entitled to have a political view on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but to compare Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, with Gaza is beyond comprehension.
Why did Mr Shields choose Giffnock as a comparator? The only answer to that question can be that the majority of the Jewish community in Scotland live in East Renfrewshire.
As Jews we are not responsible for the actions of any Israeli government whether we approve of them or not. The risk in the false analogy used by Mr Shields in his article is that it may further encourage anti-Semitism.
Recently a Facebook site utilising a similar analogy was shut down and a number of postings on the site are being investigated by Strathclyde Police.
Articles of this nature do nothing to enhance the debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and may only encourage those with motives of a more sinister nature. I was appalled at the content in this article.
Mr Shields shows a total lack of understanding of the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as well as a total lack of thought in comparing Giffnock and Newton Mearns to Gaza.
As Jews I believe we are fortunate to live in a free and largely tolerant society where minority rights are respected.
Articles of this nature put that belief at risk.
Edward Isaacs,
President, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council,
222 Fenwick Road,
Giffnock.
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